Ben, Wilbur, Finn, Will, Michael, Jonny and Josh are an ambitious and committed group of Year 13 boys from Sedbergh’s rugby team who challenged themselves to cycle and raise money for Oddballs charity. In May half term they took time out from their A-level studies and they got the job done; cycling 122km from Leeds to Filey. The boys raised over £5500 for the Oddballs Foundation, an organisation founded in 2015 to raise awareness of Testicular Cancer. The boys are not cyclists; this was a big challenge for them.
You can show your support by donating at Crowdfunding to Help raise awareness of testicular cancer with the help of the Oddballs charity on JustGiving
The boys proud parents explained the strength of the boys connection to each other and their drive and determination to succeed with their fundraising challenge.
“On Saturday 3rd June, 7 year 13 pupils (plus 2 dads) set off on an epic 122km bike ride (from Leeds to Filey) to raise money for the OddBalls Charity in aid of testicular cancer, raising over £5,500!
Over the past 5 years together they have faced rugby teams from across the world. Through the guidance of their coaches and Housemasters they’ve supported each other, both on and off the field, in both success and defeat, with humility and dignity, becoming young men in the process.
It was a hot day, the climbs were long and steep and several of our boys are, by their own admission, not natural cyclists. It was one of the toughest challenges they’ve had to face and their determination to complete the challenge and complete it together, as a team, was truly inspirational.
They displayed the Sedberghian values of committed endeavour, moral purpose and integrity of contribution and are exceptional role models to those individuals coming up through the school.
These 7 boys are our sons, we could not be prouder of their achievement, and we can’t wait to see what they all go on to achieve as they leave Sedbergh to embark on their next challenge.”
The boys themselves explained their motivation to us.
As a group we feel extremely privileged to be part of a school that supplies us with the opportunities to receive a top tier education alongside a strong sports programme. A big part of our culture in the School is to put other before ourselves and set a good example for those that follow in our footsteps. Throughout our time here at Sedbergh we aim to try and support many different charities and give back to those in need and we are grateful to be able to give back to the Oddballs charity to help raise awareness for testicular cancer in young men as we think it is very important.
We received a presentation in Assembly from OS James Grey who is an ambassador for the Oddballs charity at Newcastle University. His presentation was a big influence on our decision to choose Oddballs as the charity that we would raise money for.
With the group having done minimal training and very little knowledge of the toll this long-distance bike ride would have on our bodies, we found the ride very challenging. We started off extremely well with a big buzz of energy excited to take on this challenge. However, with Finn finding himself very ill the day before he did incredibly well to make it as far as he did, alongside Josh who experienced some extreme cramping pain and so not quite finishing but both showing great mental strength to get as far as they did. The rides were challenging and keeping on top of the fuel stores was tough. Other than that and our support rider’s wheel exploding – it was a smooth journey that we thoroughly enjoyed – as well as the fish and chips and the view of the beach at the finish line.
As a group we are extremely proud to say that we have raised just over five and a half thousand pounds and knowing that it is going to a great cause makes us even prouder. We hope that others follow in our footsteps and strive to give back to others as we will hopefully continue to do.
Sedbergh has taught us to put other before ourselves and always do your best to set the best example leaving the school in a better place than we found it.
Usually, every year we have at least one member of the upper six that completes a challenge to help raise money for a charity of their choice. Examples of these people are OS Holly Haywood who completed the famous ‘IMO Body Challenge’ raising money for breast cancer as well as a group of Year 13 boys last year who ran the distance from Sedbergh to Birmingham raising money for the charity ‘Blokes’ These are all people that have inspired us to challenge ourselves to raise money for a charity of our own. Hopefully we’ve encouraged future Sedberghians to do the same.
We would like people take away from this that the little things matter, and that people might not always remember you for what you did but they will remember you for why you did it.
“Testicular cancer is the most common cancer found in young men and this is something we want people to be aware of. When recognised early there is a very high chance that it can be treated.” Ben, Year 13